Movable spacer for the mechanical composition of matrices for linecasting machines

ABSTRACT

A tapered plate is provided for use in conjunction with the tapered axially movable spacer shaft and the fixedly positioned spacer head of a Linotype machine. The spacer head is protected and prevented from contacting the matrices when the shaft and the plate are assembled on opposite sides thereof. Axial movement of the assembly assures proper word-to-word spacing. The oppositely facing tapered surfaces of the assembled shaft and plate are always parallel regardless of their axial position relative to the spacer head. Means are provided for loosely coupling the plate and the spacer shaft with a permissable range of relative angular movement thereof.

United States Patent Velo [54] MOVABLE SPACER FOR THE MECHANICALCOMPOSITION OF MATRICES FOR LINECASTING Mar. 14, 1972 1,626,003 4/ 1927Lobit 199/68 Primary Examiner-Emest T. Wright, Jr. Anorney Clario Cecconl 57 1 ABSTRACT A tapered plate is provided for use in conjunction withthe tapered axially movable spacer shaft and the fixedly positionedspacer head of a Linotype machine. The spacer head is protected andprevented from contacting the matrices when the shaft and the plate areassembled on opposite sides thereof. Axial movement of the assemblyassures proper wordto-word spacing. The oppositely facing taperedsurfaces of the assembled shaft and plate are always parallel regardlessof their axial position relative to the spacer head. Means are providedfor loosely coupling the plate and the spacer shaft with a permissablerange of relative angular movement thereof.

1 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MOVABLE SPACER FOR THE MECHANICALCOMPOSITION OF MATRICES FOR LINECASTING MACHINES FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe movable spacers heretofore employed in the mechanical composition ofmatrices for Linotype printing generally consists of two elements,namely: a tapered shaft having the apex facing upwardly, and a smallhead, shaped like a plate, which is guided and slides relative to saidshaft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART As it is known, the spacer is positionedbetween two adjacent matrices of any two successive words in acomposition line, so that the spacers head comes in contact with one ofthe two matrices, while the tapered shaft comes in contact with theother matrix. In this manner and with suitable vertical displacements ofthe tapered shaft with respect to the head (which remains fixed), it ispossible to obtain the correct spacing, between words, of the line ofmatrices. This results, through the introduction of molten lead in theelements provided on the Linotype machine, in the creation of a line oftypographic characters.

However, the use of these known movable spacers, has seriousdisadvantages, due to the fact that, during the phase in which the lineis formed, the molten lead may come in contact with the head of thespacer, thus forming a layer of material on the surface of the headproper. This may cause the alteration of the exact shape of thecharacter located next to the head, narrowing the eye" or width of thecharacter, or causing the formation of a crest which during printingoperations causes the formation of the so-called ruling" or striping" orthe formation of a vertical line laterally to the character near thehead. Furthermore, the deposition of lead on the head of the spacercauses, with continuous use, an accentuation of the wear of the matricesand, consequently, a reduction in their life, besides renderingnecessary, every 4 hours, the cleaning of the spacers with consequentlossesin time, labor and efficiency. Finally, it often becomes necessaryto remove the lead deposited on the head of the spacers by means ofknown nature which, however, jeopardize the soundness of the structureof the spacer, thus increasing its wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides for an improvedmovable spacer for the mechanical composition of matrices for Linotypemachines, which spacer, besides the tapered shaft and head of the typementioned, comprises also a tapered plate positioned in front of theshaft so that the head is positioned protectively between the shaft andthe plate. The plate is provided at its lower extremity with athickening shaped like a transverse, partial dove tail, so as to engage,upon suitable play, a corresponding seat provided in the shaft. Thiswill permit angular displacements and will keep the plate parallel tothe shaft, so as to permit, in cooperation with the head, the spacingbetween words.

The scope of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improved movablespacer which will completely prevent the deposition of lead on the headand to protect the head between the shaft and the plate so that thelatter two will also be free from lead deposits during the compositionof the lines.

There are considerable advantages to be derived from the presentinvention, namely:

a. The necessity of frequent cleaning of the spacers is obviated, withconsequent time savings;

b. The possibility of excessive wear by the spacer of the matrices isgreatly reduced, with consequent longer life of the matrices;

c. The spacer itself is not worn by the forced and continuous removal oflayers of lead deposits by means of suitable removing tools which attackand damage the surface of the spacer;

d. Also avoided is the possibility of lead deposits on the surfaces ofthe spacer, thus assuring perfect characters without defects and perfectprinting without striation and undesirable imperfections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Withreference to the accompanying drawing, the improved movable spacer ofthe invention comprises a tapered shaft 1 which is guided and slideslongitudinally in a manner known,

per se on a head 2. On the lower part of the shaft 1 there is atransverse seat 3 shaped like a dove tail. The spacer also comprises anauxiliary plate 4, also tapered, having its apex facing upwardly andhaving in its lower extremity a transverse thickening 5 shaped like adovetail. The thickening 5 is seated v with considerable and suitableplay in the corresponding seat 3 of shaft 1, while the upper extremityof said plate 4 remains 1 free.

The plate 4 is superimposed, in front, on shaft 1, so that head 2 islodged between the two. Furthermore, plate 4 is engaged at its lower endto the shaft 1, but its connection is such that it may be displacedangularly when the shaft 1 is moved with respect to the head 2 duringthe spacing operation between words. Due to a pin 6, the plate 4 cannotbecome disengaged from the shaft 1.

The tapered configuration of head 2, shaft 1 and plate 4 is such that,regardless of the position taken by the shaft 1 and the plate 4 withrespect to the head 2 (which is stationary), there is always aparallelism between the shaft 1 and plate 4.

The plate 4 has its upper portion slightly bent outwardly, so as toassure the adherence of its whole surface both against the head 2 andagainst the shaft 1.

The above-described spacer is positioned between adjacent matrices 7 and8 of each pair of successive words in a composition line, as it isconventional'with Linotype machines. The matrices 7 and 8 are thus incontact with the shaft I and, respectively, with the plate 4, while thehead 2, which is guided by the respective ears 2' so as to engage itselfas it is provided by themachine, remains protected between the shaft 1and the plate 4.

In this manner during the fusion of the line obtained in theconventional manner, it is not possible to have a deposition of lead inthe head 2, while the vertical displacement of the shaft 1 and the plate4 with respect to the head 2 assures the perfect spacing between thematrices 7 and 8 of the words and prevents the deposition of lead ontheir respective surfaces.

What is claimed is:

l. Spacer means for use in the mechanical composition of matrices in aLinotype machine, said spacer means comprising the combination of:

a. a spacer head;

b. a tapered shaft that is axially movable relative to and positioned onone side of said spacer head;

c. an auxiliary tapered plate having one end positioned in spacedopposition to and diverging from one end of said shaft on the other sideof said spacer head whereby said spacer head is located intermediatesaid shaft and said plate and is thereby protected and prevented fromcontact with adjacent matrices;

d. coupling means for loosely joining the opposite end of said shaft andsaid plate, said coupling means including a partial dove tail jointdefined by a recess in said shaft and positely facing tapered surfacesof said shaft and said plate being parallel to each other at all othertimes regardless of the axial relationship of said spacer head thereto.

1. Spacer means for use in the mechanical composition of matrices in aLinotype machine, said spacer means comprising the combination of: a. aspacer head; b. a tapered shaft that is axially movable relative to andpositioned on one side of said spacer head; c. an auxiliary taperedplate having one end positioned in spaced opposition to and divergingfrom one end of said shaft on the other side of said spacer head wherebysaid spacer head is located intermediate said shaft and said plate andis thereby protected and prevented from contact with adjacent matrices;d. coupling means for loosely joining the opposite end of said shaft andsaid plate, said coupling means including a partial dove tail jointdefined by a recess in said shaft and a correspondingly shaped portionon said plate, whereby angular displacement of said plate relative tosaid shaft is permitted when said shaft is moved axially, said couplingmeans further including a pin for preventing the inadvertentdisengagement of said shaft and said plate without hindering saidrelative angular displacement, the oppositely facing tapered surfaces ofsaid shaft and said plate being parallel to each other at all othertimes regardless of the axial relationship of said spacer head thereto.